Shangri-La has expanded its portfolio of luxury hotels to Sri Lanka with the opening of a 300-room beachfront resort. The Shangri-La Hambantota Resort & Spa, located on an 145-acre former coconut plantation on the southern coastline of the country, is nestled beside the Indian Ocean and framed by king coconut trees.
Greg Dogan, President and CEO, Shangri-La said, “We are excited to unveil the first of two Shangri-La hotels in Sri Lanka and to add a third Indian Ocean resort to the group’s portfolio. This stunning resort is the perfect backdrop for guests to experience the incredible beauty, culture and warmth of Sri Lanka. We have created a destination within a destination where guests can discover unique experiences and find personal moments of ‘Shangri-La’.”
Beginning at 48 sqm, the guestrooms feature louvered shutters and polished wooden floors that lead to balconies suited for admiring the resort’s lush garden – where peacocks can be spotted roaming the grounds – or ocean vista. Each of the 21 suites provides the ultimate in privacy and butler service.
The sun-drenched setting of Shangri-La’s Hambantota Resort & Spa encourages guests to bask by one of three salt-water swimming pools, including the Sunset pool and a freeform pool, that blend with the resort’s scenic landscape of flora and leafy surrounds.
Golfers can expect to be challenged on the par-70 course at Shangri-La’s Golf and Country Club when it opens in mid-June. The resort is the first in Sri Lanka to have its own golf course. Designed by Rodney Wright, it encompasses a revitalized former sapphire mine. Players encounter three zones that present infinity ocean views, wide fairways and testing water and bunker features. Lush vegetation and birdlife can be seen along the 5,584-metre long course of salt-tolerant grass. Eco-friendly attributes include the use of degradable organic balls (filled with fish feed) at the driving rage and an irrigation system that harvests and recycles rain water for the course.
